Filtering-plate.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

G. W. GERLAGH.

PILTERING PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED H5123, 1906 a um J EF 0 mmw n57 dam mmfl mm mm DD m T m mm PATENT OFFICE.

(,tEORGE \V. GERLACH, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

FlLTERlNG-PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed February 28.1906. Serial Na 302,499,

To (t/l 10/1/0711 it IH/H/II/ concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GERLAOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in FilteringPlates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of filtering-plates which are used to retain pulpy solids while fluid is being pressed therefrom; and its object is to reduce to a minimum the weight of each plate, so that the same may be easily handled in service, and at the same time to secure such a form as will sustain great pres sure and yet deliver the filtered fluid freely.

To this end my invention consists in a filtering-plate of the shape and construction hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a filtering-plate according to myinvention. Fig, 2represents either a top or bottom edge view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a fragmental section at the line X of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 a l'ragmental section at line V.

Numeral 5 represents the web, which eX tends across the whole area of the plate midway its thickness.

6 represents a series of ribs which project from each face of the web in parallel vertical lines.

7 represents rims, of which there are two to each plate, cast integral with the web and ribs and forming, with the latter, the flat surface of the outer face of the plate.

Between the web 5 and the rims 7 are apertures S, forming a separate outlet for each end of each groove 9 between the ribs 6. At the center of the plate is a hub 13, through which is an aperture 10, whereby material to be filtered is passed from one chamber to another between plates when the plates are assembled in the press.

11 represents studs projecting from the face of each plate, the studs of adjacent plates meeting as supports for the central portion of the plate against facial pressure when in service.

To give exit to the fluids from the grooves above the central hub 13, a groove 14 crosses the lower ends of the ribs 15 and communicates with the grooves beside the hub. The central rib 16 is full to the hub, and the web, being supported by rib 16 and the hub, supports the lower ends of the ribs 15.

The usual filtering-screens are to be secured upon the faces of each plate, and the plates are to be separated by rings or drums resting against the faces of the rims 7, forming chambers between the plates when the plates and rings are thus assembled in the press. Through the web 5 are perforations 12, which permit the air which is pressed in bubbles from the pulp to find courses of least resistance on its way upward and out through the top apertures 8. The ribs (5 have to sustain the whole pressure that is applied to the material being filtered but as long as that material remains fairly iluid it will freely reach both sides of the plate at once, so the pressure then tends only to crush the plate; but at any time when the screen upon one face of a plate becomes more loaded than the screen upon the other face there would be unequal pressure tending to break the plate, and at such times the web joining the ribs distributes over a number of ribs the pressure which might break one or two ribs not thus reinforced, and yet if the web were imperl'orate, so that one face of the plate could become loaded and clogged while the fluid escaped freely from the other face, the whole central portion of the plate might be broken thrmigh. Therefore Iprovide the preforatious 12, to permit the lluid from the free side to pass through the web to the back of the screen on the loaded side, whereby the pressure on the two faces of the plate is again nearly equalized and danger is averted. Plates of this construction permit with safety very much greater pressure to be applied to the material that is being liltered than would plates similar to this in other respects, but having slots through and through them without any web, or plates similar to these in other respects, but having an imporforate web. The advantage of this is that such heavier pressure expresses a larger percentage of the fluid and leaves the residuum so nearly free from moisture that the subsequent process of drying is greatly facilitated.

17 represents arms by which the plate is hung in the press.

Each groove communicating entirely across from the top to the bottom of the plate behind the screen may be flushed and washed out, and the back of the screen maybe cleaned by admitting water under pressure from a hose-nozzle inserted into the upper end of the groove, either while the press is in service or after service.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I believe to be new, and desire to secure ribs, and apertures between the said Web and by Letters Patent, is the following:

In filter-plates, a Web portion extending across the Whole area of the plate; ribs proj ecting from each face of the Web and crossing it vertically at short distances apart leaving grooves between the ribs, the bottoms of the grooves being the faces of the Web apertures through the Web in the grooves; a rim around the edge of the plate even With the plane of each face of the outer portions of the the tWo rims, communicating with the said grooves as inlet and outlet continuations thereof substantially as shown and described. 15 In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE W. GERLACH.

l/Vitnesses MICHAEL WEsTERNAM, HENRY BECK, 

